U.S. National Security Depends on "Soft Power"“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21:13)

The U.S. spends 60% less on foreign assistance as a percentage of our GDP today, than under President Reagan – currently less than 1% of the federal budget. Since President Trump’s massive proposed budget and personnel cuts are a radical departure for U.S. foreign assistance, it begs a very real question...

In 2000, the threat of a drug war spilling over our southern border from Colombia was a very real danger. Instead, “Plan Colombia” took a country near collapse to peace.

With the bipartisan support of Congress, and both Republican and Democrat White Houses, U.S. foreign assistance provided security and economic development to Colombia, helped counter the anti-government rebels known as FARC, and trained Colombian law enforcement to combat narcotics, all with minimal (and costly) U.S. military support and most financial investment coming from Colombia.

The result: Colombia’s economy grew, unemployment and poverty hit new lows, the country’s homicide rate dropped by 50% and kidnappings dropped by 90%.

Late last year, the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with FARC, ending Latin America’s longest civil war.Today Colombia is a valuable U.S. security and economic partner, but without the injection of U.S. foreign assistance influence and leadership, a costly ground war would have been the far likelier result.

In 2003, more than 20 million people in Africa had AIDS and only 50,000 had access to antiretroviral drugs, ARVs. In 9 targeted countries, PEPFAR halved the adult death rate within five years, while mortality in other sub-Saharan countries barely fell during that same time frame.

Today, 11.5 million people are living productive lives with HIV.

PEPFAR isn’t not just about drugs. It provides critical care for six million AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, has saved some 2 million babies from being born HIV-positive HIV testing; provided counseling for 74 million people; and trained 220,000 health workers.

Improved healthcare infrastructure means maternal/child health is improved, diseases like malaria and TB are better controlled, and future epidemics can be more quickly stopped at the borders where they begin. One look back at Ebola and we see the threat a seemingly far away pandemic can pose.

Some studies show important secondary benefits in PEPFAR countries: higher employment rates for men, three times faster development, and a decrease in political instability and violent activity from 40% to 3%, reducing the conditions that lead to extremism, while increasing markets for U.S. exports.

Photo: U.S. Embassy in Guyana

PEPFAR is partnering with MCC on data collaborative projects that are strengthening the availability and use of data to improve livesPhoto: MCC

A gunman makes a radio call in rebel-held FallujahPhoto: AP

Displaced Iraqis from the embattled city of Fallujah wait for water to be delivered at a camp suffering from water and food shortages where they are taking shelter. Photo: Moadh al-Dulaimi / AFP

“Water Wars” Won’t be Won on a Battlefield

In the next decade, some 2.9 billion people in 48 countries will face water shortages, which could pose a major threat to global security, according to a UN report. “Water terrorism”, say U.S. intelligence agencies, is a major threat. To prevent water from becoming weaponized, diplomacy and development, which increase water security, are required.

ISIS gave its fighters dangerous leverage over local governments and populations by depriving access to water. When ISIS seized the Fallujah Dam, it cut off water to Christian, Kurdish and Muslim minorities areas. If ISIS had decided to destroy the dam, it would have created millions more refugees among those who were not immediately killed by the resulting flood. ISIS gained temporary control of the Mosul Dam, the most important hydropower source in Iraq and the fourth largest in the Middle East, providing electricity to millions. U.S. air power helped the Kurds recapture it; but other terrorists are paying attention.

After the Somali government retook most cities and ports, Al-Shabab changed tactics and cut off liberated cities from water sources, even destroying water supplies. In Pakistan, a UNDP report says the major threat to stability is water, though in this case it’s due to poor government management of resources. The Pakistan government, however, is blaming India.

No famine for the Lion of Africa

Four nations are in the midst of the worst famines in 50 years. But Ethiopia is not one of them. Facing one of the strongest El Niños on record, Ethiopia will not face in the mass casualties it endured in the 1980s, which made it the poster child for famine. As Ambassador Daniel Speckhard, President of Lutheran World Relief, says, “This is no rerun of the 1983-85 famine that gave us Live Aid -- the concert that elevated famine to the international stage and screen, and helped secure humanitarian aid. Far more than the music industry has invested in Ethiopia since then, helping Ethiopia make impressive strides in fighting poverty, fostering economic growth, and improving infrastructure.”

Significant growth in agriculture is a key factor in reducing, by one-third, the share of Ethiopians living in poverty between 2000 and 2010. Foreign investment and foreign assistance from Western donors, including the U.S., has helped bolster impressive growth. Ethiopia's robust economic expansion, more than twice the regional average, lead some to call it the Lion of Africa.

That said, a significant food crisis could still cause Ethiopia to fall into an economic and political downturn and that isn't only a humanitarian concern. Think back to Ethiopia’s past, or today in Sudan and Syria -- prolonged drought have led to urban migration, protests and eventual civil war.

Ethiopia hopes to become a middle-income country within a decade. The international community, including the U.S., must continue their support so that Ethiopia’s impressive achievements roll forward and not back.

To fill children’s bellies, offer safe water to the thirsty, and free men, women and children from the yoke of exploitation, so that all may have the opportunity to thrive. That is Matthew 25's moral call and opportunityof U.S. foreign assistance.

Faith communities, faith leaders and faith-based organizations are dedicated U.S. government partners, implementers, and advocates on behalf of all God's children. We generously contribute and we gratefully support America's longstanding, bipartisan commitment to poverty-focused foreign assistance.

Congress’ rejection of the President’s proposed budget is a milestone of bipartisanship that will make America safer, stronger, more prosperous, and a more effective global leader. Faith communities everywhere applaud Congress for restoring proposed cuts.

Exports and U.S. Jobs, Not Exporting U.S. Jobs: "You can't export unless there's people on the other end"

We can’t forget that one in five American jobs is tied to trade and one in three manufacturing jobs is tied to exports. Of note: 43 of the top 50 consumer nations of American agricultural products were once U.S. foreign aid recipients.

As Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) rightly reminded Congress, “You can't export unless there's people on the other end of the deal to buy it from you…and it begins in many places around the world by ensuring that they are alive, and then to ensure that they have the education they need to develop an economy so their people can become consumers and trade partners with us.”

U.S. National Security: "We all become stronger"

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) is pretty blunt: “I’ll be real honest with you, I came up here to get rid of foreign aid. But you can’t cut foreign aid. You have to use it more effectively. The only way we can make America great again is if we partner and help [countries] achieve goals and by doing that, we all become stronger. And that’s how we’re going to have a more stable world.”

Threats to global security are often predictable and preventable, like pandemics that poor countries lack the capacity to contain; natural and man-made crises that lead to economic instability; famine that can trigger societal collapse and fuel violent extremism in fragile states. To further reduce U.S. foreign assistance funding, is to eliminate a vital source of stability in the world, undercut our own national security, and put more troops in harms way.

Prioritizing robust development and diplomacy is a moral obligation to our troops and their families. The deployment of troops and missiles must be a last option in preventing escalation of crises and protecting national security, not the first.

Reflecting our country’s deeply-embedded concern for the neediest, not just the nearest, Americans in all 50 states open their wallets and hearts, giving time and money in the face of natural and man-made crises around the world. But it is the engagement of U.S. government leadership and influence - and funding - that has been instrumental in reducing early child deaths by half; preventing pandemics; reducing disease burden; cutting extreme poverty by half; providing safe water to a billion people and much more. We will continue to abide by our American values if we ensure successes don’t unravel, if we don't create new risks at home and abroad, and if we do continue to improve the lives and economies of All God's Children.

“I believe in the depths of my heart that our creator has honored America's willingness to step forward and help those around the world," said Sen. Rubio. "And I believe he will continue to do so as long as we use our blessings, not just for our good but for the good of mankind.”

Faith for International Assistance (FIA) seeks to strengthen U.S. public support and funding for global health and development assistance through the voice and lens of faith. contact us at: susankbarnett@gmail.com